Detection of bacteraemia and host response in healthy neonatal foals.
Abstract: Neonatal sepsis is a common problem in foals and is a primary cause of death in the post natal period. Transient bacteraemia and subsequent host responses have not been described in the equine neonate. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine if transient bacteraemia occurs in foals within the first 72 h of life. Additional objectives included description of bacterial organisms associated with transient bacteraemia and concurrent cytokine gene expression in healthy foals. Methods: Prospective observational study in healthy foals. Methods: Blood was aseptically collected for bacterial culture from observed spontaneously born foals at birth and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h following birth. Samples taken at birth, 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h were analysed for interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1) cytokine gene expression quantified by RT-PCR. Results: Bacteria were cultured from 9 of 70 samples submitted for blood culture. The positive samples were from 4 of the 7 foals, all of which remained healthy throughout and subsequent to the study. All positive blood cultures were from blood samples obtained at 12 h of age or earlier and IL-10 elevation coincided with positive blood cultures in healthy foals. Cytokine gene expression fluctuated with age. Conclusions: Positive blood cultures suggest transient bacteraemia may occur in healthy foals early in the post natal period. Age corrected normal values may be necessary to interpret cytokine concentration in diseased populations.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2014-09-05 PubMed ID: 24917427DOI: 10.1111/evj.12307Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article presents a study exploring the occurrence of transient bacteraemia (bacteria in the blood) and related immune responses in healthy newborn foals within the first 72 hours of their life. The study findings propose that transient bacteraemia might occur early in the post-birth period and that age-related standard values might be important for interpreting cytokine concentration in diseased populations.
Research objectives and methodology
The research had two primary objectives:
- Firstly, it aimed to determine whether transient bacteraemia occurs in foals within the first 72 hours of life. Transient bacteraemia refers to the presence of bacteria in the blood which is temporary and often without symptoms.
- Secondly, the research sought to identify the types of bacterial organisms tied to such transient bacteraemia, along with the expression of various cytokines in healthy foals. Cytokines are proteins that play a critical role in cell signaling during immune responses.
The researchers utilised a prospective observational study design examining healthy foals. Blood samples were carefully collected at various intervals soon after birth until 72 hours later. These samples were then cultured for bacterial presence and analyzed for the expression of specific cytokines.
Results obtained
The research yielded significant findings:
- Bacteria were identified in 9 of the 70 blood samples submitted, suggesting that transient bacteraemia may occur in healthy foals. These samples came from 4 out of the 7 foals under observation, all of which remained healthy during and after the study. It was further noted that all positive blood samples were taken at the age of 12 hours or earlier.
- The cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) showed a rise coinciding with the positive blood cultures, indicating a potential immune response.
- The expression of various studied cytokine genes differed with age.
Conclusions drawn
The study concludes that transient bacteraemia might occur in healthy newborn foals during the early hours after birth, with potential implications for their immune responses. It further suggests that as the cytokine gene expression varies with age, standard values adjusted for age might be required for the interpretation of cytokine concentrations in diseased populations.
Cite This Article
APA
Hackett ES, Lunn DP, Ferris RA, Horohov DW, Lappin MR, McCue PM.
(2014).
Detection of bacteraemia and host response in healthy neonatal foals.
Equine Vet J, 47(4), 405-409.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12307 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Science, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bacteremia / immunology
- Bacteremia / microbiology
- Bacteremia / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Chen LT, Wesdorp E, Jager M, Siegers EW, Theelen MJP, Besselink N, Vermeulen C, Zomer AL, Broens EM, Wagenaar JA, de Ridder J. Bacterial cell-free DNA profiling reveals the co-elevation of multiple bacteria in newborn foals with suspected sepsis. iScience 2025 Dec 19;28(12):114005.
- Wilkins PA, Wong D, Slovis NM, Collins N, Barr BS, MacKenzie C, De Solis CN, Castagnetti C, Mariella J, Burns T, Perkins G, Delvescovo B, Sanchez LC, Kemper AM, Magdesian KG, Bedenice D, Taylor SD, Gold J, Dunkel B, Pranzo G, Constable PD. The Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Predictors of Infection and Mortality in 1068 Critically Ill Newborn Foals. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70004.
- Hobbs KJ, Cooper BL, Dembek K, Sheats MK. Investigation of Extracted Plasma Cell-Free DNA as a Biomarker in Foals with Sepsis. Vet Sci 2024 Aug 1;11(8).
- Samuels AN, Kamr AM, Reed SM, Slovis NM, Hostnik LD, Burns TA, Toribio RE. Association of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio with outcome in sick hospitalized neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Mar-Apr;38(2):1196-1206.
- Elder E, Wong D, Johnson K, Robertson H, Marner M, Dembek K. Assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function using a vasopressin stimulation test in neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Sep-Oct;37(5):1881-1888.
- Bookbinder LC, Mani R, Carr EA. Antibiograms of field and hospital acquired equine neonatal bacterial fluid cultures in the Midwestern United States: 149 samples (2007-2018). J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1193-1200.
- Johnson K, Peterson J, Kopper J, Dembek K. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to ovine corticotropin-releasing-hormone stimulation tests in healthy and hospitalized foals. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jan;37(1):292-301.
- Colmer SF, Luethy D, Abraham M, Stefanovski D, Hurcombe SD. Utility of cell-free DNA concentrations and illness severity scores to predict survival in critically ill neonatal foals. PLoS One 2021;16(4):e0242635.
- Furr M, McKenzie H 3rd. Factors associated with the risk of positive blood culture in neonatal foals presented to a referral center (2000-2014). J Vet Intern Med 2020 Nov;34(6):2738-2750.
- Wong DM, Ruby RE, Dembek KA, Barr BS, Reuss SM, Magdesian KG, Olsen E, Burns T, Slovis NM, Wilkins PA. Evaluation of updated sepsis scoring systems and systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria and their association with sepsis in equine neonates. J Vet Intern Med 2018 May;32(3):1185-1193.
- Zabrecky KA, Slovis NM, Constable PD, Taylor SD. Plasma C-reactive protein and haptoglobin concentrations in critically ill neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Mar-Apr;29(2):673-7.
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